On the occasion of the historic 40th Charter Day of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar and Madam Taslima Sarwar hosted a Diplomatic Reception in Kathmandu today Rt. Hon'ble Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Vice President of Nepal, graced the function with his presence as the Chief Guest. Among the esteemed guests present at the commemorative event were Office-Bearers of the Constitutional Bodies of Nepal, Members of Parliament, Former Ministers, Secretaries of the Government of Nepal, high-ranking officials, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations in Kathmandu, representatives of business community and civil society, editors and reporters of media houses and people from all walks of life.

Heads of States/Governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well as the Foreign Ministers of Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka issued special messages on 08 December 2024 to commemorate this momentous day. In their messages, the Heads of State/Government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs have underlined the important role of SAARC as a shared platform to its Member States for fostering mutual understanding, regional cooperation and solidarity.

The SAARC Leaders have also re-committed in realizing the collective vision of a peaceful, prosperous and more integrated South Asia. Addressing today’s function, Ambassador Sarwar stated that over the past four decades, SAARC has made valuable progress in consolidating and streamlining institutional structure, norm setting and programme implementation in priority areas of regional cooperation which are crucial to promoting the welfare of the peoples and improving their quality of life.
Looking back, our journey over the past four decades has been remarkable, the Secretary General said, we are deeply grateful for the commitments and contributions made by our Member States, SAARC Specialized Bodies, Regional Centers, Observers of SAARC, and our regional and international partners.

The Secretary General further stated that SAARC represented more than one-fourth of the world’s population and, endowed with vast human and natural resources, South Asia had immense potential to grow and prosper together as a region, With sustained endeavours, we will surely be able to realize the region’s vast possibilities through effective regional cooperation and integration, he added Today’s function also featured a live cultural performance representing the rich cultural traditions of all eight SAARC Member States. The guests in attendance were also treated with delicious cuisines of all SAARC Countries.

It may be mentioned that the Heads of State/Government of seven South Asian countries launched SAARC by adopting its Charter at the First Summit held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 08 December 1985. Since then, 08 December is observed as the SAARC Charter Day every year across the South Asia region.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) commemorates its historic 40th Charter Day on 8 December 2024. The SAARC was launched by the South Asian Heads of State/Government at their First Summit in Dhaka by adopting the Charter on 08 December 1985. Since then, 08 December is commemorated as the SAARC Charter Day every year.

The Heads of State/Government of SAARC Member States, Hon’ble President of Bangladesh, Mr. Mohammed Shahabuddin; Hon’ble Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan, Mr. Tshering Tobgay; Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi; Hon’ble President of Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu; Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli; Hon’ble Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif; Hon’ble President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake; and Hon’ble Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, have issued special messages in commemoration of the 40th Charter Day. The Foreign Ministers of Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka have also issued dedicatory messages on the occasion.

In their special messages, the Heads of State/Government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs have underlined the important role of SAARC as a shared platform to its Member States for fostering mutual understanding, regional cooperation and solidarity. They have expressed that SAARC is the embodiment of the region’s collective aspiration for peace, prosperity and advancement. The SAARC Leaders also re-committed in realizing the collective vision of a peaceful, prosperous and more integrated South Asia. Having possessed massive human resources due to youthful population, rich natural and cultural assets as well as facing the common challenges of poverty, under-development and environmental degradation, South Asia has strong imperatives for regional cooperation, the Leaders have conveyed.

Emphasizing the importance of collective efforts and initiatives to achieve growth and prosperity in the region, they have unequivocally expressed their commitment and support to the SAARC process in order to fully realize the objectives spelled out in the Charter.

The Leaders have also conveyed their felicitations and greetings to the peoples and Governments of the Member States on the occasion of the Charter Day. Copies of their messages are attached. (https://www.saarc-sec.org/index.php/media-centre/charter-day-messages/2024-2)

The Secretary General of SAARC has also issued a message to mark the important milestone. In his message, the Secretary General has conveyed that the special Day provides an occasion to celebrate the numerous achievements SAARC has made in consolidating and streamlining institutional structure, norm setting in priority areas as well as programmes implementation to promote the cause of regional cooperation. This is also an occasion to forge new resolve to strengthen SAARC and reinvigorate all its processes, the Secretary General has said.

To celebrate the 40th SAARC Charter Day, the Secretary General of SAARC and his spouse will host a diplomatic reception in Kathmandu in the evening of 12 December 2024.

SAARC Secretariat
Kathmandu, 08 December 2024

Director (IPA) at SAARC Secretariat Mr. Hari Odari addressed the seminar organised by NIICE in Kathmandu today on the theme, "South Asian Regionalism: Prospects & Challenges."
The Director highlighted various initiatives under SAARC to promote regional cooperation in South Asia.

The Secretary General of SAARC Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar called on the Vice President of Nepal Rt. Hon. Ramsahay Prasad Yadav at the latter's office today and handed over the invitation to the Vice President requesting him to grace with his presence the reception which will be hosted in Kathmandu on 12 December 2024 to celebrate the 40th SAARC Charter Day. Rt Hon Vice President kindly accepted the invitation.
During the meeting, the two dignitaries also exchanged views on the significance of the Charter Day, importance of SAARC for peace, growth and prosperity in the region as well as the need of reinvigorating SAARC.